Ham-branding apparatus.



PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904.

S. M. BING. HAM BRANDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30,1904.

3 SHEE -HEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 762,679. PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904. S. M. BING. HAM BRANDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

N0 MODEL.

No- 762,679. PATENTED JUNE 14,1904.

S. M. BING.

HAM BRANDING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

3 SHBETSSHEET 3.

Patented June 14, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIEGFRIED M. BING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HAM-BRANDING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,679, dated un 14:, 1904:.

Application filed January 30, 1904:. Serial No. 191,347. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIEGFRIED M. BING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ham-Branding Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a ham-branding machine; and the primary object of the same is to assemble a number of cooperating elements for receiving hams and automatically transferring the same individually to branding means and finally depositing them into a conveying device after the branding operation is completed without requiring manual attention except to feed the hams regularly to the elements and take them away from the machine after the branding operation is completed.

Afurther object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages and delay incident to ham-branding operations and expedite the preparation of hams for shipment.

A still further object of the invention is to simplify the operation of branding hams by means of automatic mechanism having a positive operation and of a strong and durable nature.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully hereinafter set forth and subject to a Wide range of modification without departing from' the spirit of the invention. 7

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof, the primary feeding means being shown in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through a portion of the machine. Fig. i'is a detail perspective view of portions of the conveying-chains or elevating means and one of the shelves or carriers secured thereto. I

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates an upright frame in connection with which the major part of the mechanism has operation, said frame being constructed in such manner as to be strong and durable and comprises pairs of uprights spaced a suitable distance apart from each other and connected by upper tie-beams or cross-sills 2, from which extends a vertical cross-head frame 3 with slots 4 in the opposite ends thereof to loosely receive a crosshead 5. A link 6 is attached at one end to the cross-head 5 and eccentrically secured at its opposite end to an operating element or crank-wheel 7 on a shaft 8, the latter being suspended from a ceiling or other elevated supporting means bysuitable hangers and having a drive-pulley 9 thereon, which may be operated from any power source. Extending across the upper part of the frame 1 and having bearing at its opposite extremities in the cross beams or sills 2 are feeding stubshafts 10, projected outwardly from opposite sides of the frame and each provided with a ratchet-wheel 11, the teeth 12 of said ratchetwheel being formed in its outer face. Both ratchet-wheels are of similar construction and are arranged to simultaneously operate the stub-shafts 1O equally or in unison. Movably held on the outer terminals of the shafts 10 outside of the ratchet-wheels 11 are pairs of arms 13, having their upper ends movably attached to the lower ends of links 14, the latter being converted and movably attached to connecting-rods 15, depending from the opposite ends of the cross-head 5. On the ends of the shafts 1O inside of the frame sprocket-wheels 16 are fixed and engaged by chain belts 17 Which move downwardly over lower pairs of sprocket-wheels 18 and 19, respectively,secured on lower stubshafts 20 and 21. Secured at regular intervals to the chain or belts 17 are carriers 22 in the form of flat shelves, having terminal pivot projections 23 secured to the oppositely-disposed chain belts. These carriers are adapted to be tilted by means which will be presently explained, but to. always maintain them in horizontal position or to prevent them from turning over when they arrive at their lowermost position and begin an ascent toward the cross-heads weights 24 are attaehed to and depend from the opposite ends thereof, the pivot projections 23 extending outwardly from the upper terminal of the arms 24*,carrying said weights. These weights are located between the chain belts and are suliiciently heavy to overcome any tendency of thelargest ham that may be fed to the carriers from tilting the latter.

Extending inwardly from the opposing beams or sills 2 are holders for the carriers or shelves, consisting of upper guiding or retention plates 25 and lower pressure-sustaining plates 26, the latter being at an angle to the plates 25 and held by bracket-arms 25,

attached to the uprights of the frame below the sills,the said bracket-arms 25 being on rved sufficiently adjacent to their upper extremities to permit the weights to pass the same without obstruction. The plates 26 are of greater thickness than the plates 25, and all the plates are spaced apart from each other a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the carriers, so that the latter may move between the plates and be held steady during a branding operation, which will be presently set forth. T he upper sprocket-wheels for the chain belts 17 are located below the plates 25, but extend high enough in relation to the plates 25 to cause the under sides of the carriers or shelves to lirmly contact with the upper sides of said plates 26 when fed over the latter.

The cross-head 5 has a centrally-loeate .l pendant or downwardly-extending projection 28, formed with a socket 29 in the lower end thereof, communicating with an upper spring chamber 30 of greater diameter. 111 the socket 29 the stem 31 of a branding-head 32 is movably mounted, said stem having an upper flange 33, between which and the top wall of the chamber 30 a spring 34 is interposed. The spring 34 tends to force the stem 31 and the head 32 downwardly below the lower terminal of the pendant 28, and in the branding operation said spring also serves to cushion the branding head and stem and prevent injury to the ham disposed thereunder, but at the same time permit the branding operation to be effectively performed.

At one side of the frame 1 and the mechanism carried thereby, as set forth, is what may be termed a primary feeder, consisting of a frame 35, having legs 36 and carrying rotatable elements 37 at opposite eXtre1nities,iiXed on shafts 38. Engaging the rotatable elements 37 is a conveyer in the form of a belt 39, having transverse ribs 40 disposed thereon at intervals. The shaft 38, adjacent to the frame 1, is projected out\ ardly far enough to receive a pulley 41, which is engaged by a belt 42, also surrounding a pulley 43 on the shaft 20, whereby a proper feeding motion may be imparted to the belt 39 inwardly toward the frame 1 and also to the carriers 22,

operating in the latter. Secured to the inner" end of this feeder is a deflector consisting of up wardly-projecting supporting-arms 44,carrying a convex deflector plate or head 45, which is slightly below the plane of the upper portion of the belt 49, so that the hams as fed inwardly by the said belt will pass over the plate or head 45 and from the latter be deflected inwardly to the several carriers,the said plate or head 45 being inclined toward the frame of the machine and the carriers. On the opposite side of the frame 1 above the shaft 21 and sprocket-wheel 19 thereon is a trip device consisting of a pin or rod 46, which engages the inner portions of the sev eral carriers coming in contact therewith or the arms 24 of the weights and tilts said carriers,so that their outer extremities will be thrown downwardly, as shown by Fig. 2, and from the several successive tilted carriers the hams are delivered to a conveyer-belt 47, supported on end rollers 48, held by the opposite sides of an outlet-chute 49, the. belt 47 being inclined downwardly toward the outer end of the chute. Above the belt a series of feeding-rollers are disposed and held by the opposite sides of the chute 49 parallel with the conveyer, the function of the said rollers being to retain the hams thereon onto the conveyer in close relation to the latter, and thus reliably and positively feed thehams toward the outer end of the chute and overcome any tendency to choking or imposing too much weight at one time on the conveyer. At the end of the chute a suitable truck 51 may be disposed to receive the hams from the conveyer, said truck being replaceable when loaded by the empty one of similar nature. Motion is imparted to the one roller 48 and the rollers 50 by a belt 51, actuated by a primary transmitting-belt 52, extending from a pulley 53 on the shaft 21 and engaging a pulley 54 on the inner end of one side of the chute, and between the latter pulley and the adjacent roller 48 a cross-belt 54 is arranged and surrounds a pulley 54 on the end of said roller 48.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a step-by-step movement is imparted to the chain belt 17 by the ratchet devices cooperating with the stub-shafts 10, and thus the carriers 22 will be gradually elevated at one side of the frame 1 to individually dispose the hams under the branding mechanism and move downwardly at the opposite side of the frame and finally deposit the branded hams on the conveyer 47, this operation being successively and regularly effected while the mechanism is in motion. The movement of the chain belts 17 actuates the primary feeder and conveyer mechanism, so that the latter will have an operation in timed relation to the movements of the several carriers, and all of the parts will be so arranged and propor- IIS tioned that when one carrier bearing a ham thereon is disposed under the branding mechanism another carrier of the series will be in position under the deflector at the inner end of the primary feeder to receive a ham, and an oppositely-positioned carrier will be in tilted condition to deliver its branded ham onto the conveyer 47. The advantages of the improved machine are manifold, and in view of the apparent simplicity of the several parts the cost of manufacture will be reduced to a minimum. A further advantage in the arrangement of the several parts is that when the cross-head carrying the branding mechanism descends it will immediately bring a carrier and ham under said branding mechanism, and a successive upward movement of the cross-head will cause the dogs of the arms cooperating with the ratchet-wheels to move over the latter such a distance that the next downward stroke of the said cross-head and branding mechanism will cause the branded ham and its carrier to be shifted from under the branding mechanism and a folding carrier and ham disposed in position to receive a brand.

The capacity of the machine may be varied by increasing or decreasing the number of carriers and correspondingly modifying the length of the chain belts to which said carriers are connected. Under such conditions the power for actuating the several mechanisms will also be modified. It will also be understood that the shaft 8 will be operated in timed relation to the movement of the chain belts and carriers, so that the cross-head and branding mechanism carried thereby will descend and ascend at proper intervals.

Having thus fully described the invention, whatis claimed as new is- 1. A ham-branding device, having branding means, tilting carriers for holding individual hams movable toward said branding means and provided with devices for restoring them to normal position, and mechanism for supplying and relieving each carrier of the ham carried thereby.

2. In a machine of the class set forth, a branding mechanism, a series of movablymounted gravitating carriers adapted to be successively fed toward the branding mechanism, and means for feeding hams to and relieving the latter from the several carriers.

3. In a machine of the class set forth the combination of branding mechanism,a series of movably mounted gravitating carriers adapted to be fed toward the branding mechanism, means operative by the movement of the branding mechanism to impart astep-bystep feeding motion to the carriers, and means for disposing hams on the carriers and relieving the latter of the hams after the branding operation.

4:. In a machine of the class set forth, the combination of branding mechanism, a series of movably mounted gravitating carriers spaced apart from each other adapted to be fed toward the branding mechanism, and means operative by the movement of the branding mechanism to impart a step-by-step feeding motion to the carriers.

5. In a machine of the class set forth, the combination of branding mechanism, a series of movably-mounted gravitating carriers connected for simultaneous feeding movement adapted to be tilted in one direction,and means for successively and regularly shifting the several carriers proportionately to the movement of the branding mechanism.

6. In a machine of the class set forth, the combination of branding mechanism, a series of movably-mounted gravitating carriers connected for simultaneous operation, and means operative simultaneously with the movement of the branding mechanism to proportionately and successively shift the carriers and the contents thereof under such mechanism.

7. In a machine of the class set forth, the combination of branding mechanism, a series of movabl y-mounted gravitatin g carriers connected for simultaneous operation and having a tilting movement in one direction, and ham feeding and receiving means disposed on opposite sides of the carriers and operated in time relation to the latter.

8. In a machine of the class set forth, the combination of a series of vertically-movable gravitating carriers, and branding means under which the carriers are adapted to be successively fed, and mechanism operative in timed relation to the branding means for imparting a step-by-step feed motion to the car- 'riers.

9. In a machine of the class set forth, the combination of a series of carriers connected for simultaneous operation and having atilting movement in one direction, a branding mechanism, means between said mechanism and carriers for imparting a step-by-step movement to the latter, means for individually tilting the carriers,and means on opposite sides of the carriers for respectively feeding and receiving the contents of the latter and operative in timed relation to the said carriers.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SIEGFRIED M. BING.

Witnesses: I

GUs'rAv STEINMETZ, WV. J. BISOHOFF. 

